Indonesian capital hit by massive power outage

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s sprawling capital and other parts of Java island have been hit by a massive power outage affecting millions of people.

The blackout began at around noon Sunday and caused disruptions in cellphone services and cash machines. The new mass subway system in Jakarta, the capital, was temporarily closed, according to Channel News Asia.

CNA said the blackout was caused by a problem with a gas turbine at a major power plant and by a disruption at another facility on Java. It also said many buildings in Jakarta were relying on power generators during the outage.

Jakarta is a congested, polluted and sprawling metropolis of 10 million that swells to three times that number when counting those living in the larger metropolitan area.